Air Plant Wedding Bouquets: A Creative Guide

Air plants are a unique and versatile choice for wedding bouquets. They are absorbed through the leaves, meaning they need no soil, and can be enjoyed for much longer than a bouquet of fresh flowers. With a few simple materials and steps, you can create a stunning, custom arrangement that serves as the perfect accessory for your big day. This guide will walk you through the process of making your own air plant wedding bouquet, from sourcing the plants to assembling and finishing your bouquet.

Choosing your air plants

Air plants are a unique and versatile choice for a wedding bouquet, and with good care, they can last much longer than a bouquet of fresh flowers. When choosing air plants for your bouquet, there are several factors to consider, such as colour, size, and variety.

First, select the colour of your air plants. You may want to choose a colour that complements your wedding dress and colour palette or opt for contrasting colours to add drama to your bouquet. Air plants come in a range of shades, from purple and lavender to green and blush. You can also incorporate filler flowers or greenery in complementary or contrasting colours to enhance the overall design.

Next, consider the size of the air plants. If you're creating a large bouquet, choose larger air plants as your focal flowers, with smaller varieties accenting them. Alternatively, for a more delicate or whimsical bouquet, opt for smaller air plants throughout.

Variety is also essential when choosing air plants. You can select from numerous air plant species, such as the Tillandsia Houston, Tillandsia Ionantha, or Air Plant Iona. Combining different varieties can add interest and texture to your bouquet. Consider using a mix of air plants in various shapes and sizes to create a unique and captivating arrangement.

Finally, when choosing your air plants, don't forget to plan for any other wedding decorations or favours you may want to include. Air plants can be used not only in bouquets but also in boutonnieres, tablescapes, and wedding favours. If you wish to incorporate air plants elsewhere in your wedding, choose a species that will suit your needs and source them in sufficient quantities.

With careful selection and creativity, you can design a stunning air plant bouquet that reflects your personal style and makes your wedding day even more memorable.

Preparing your flowers and greenery

First, you will need to remove all the leaves from your floral stems. This step may be done by hand, gently plucking each leaf from the stem without damaging it. You can also use shears or scissors to carefully cut off the leaves. Removing the leaves will give your bouquet a cleaner look and make it easier to handle.

Next, separate the flowers and greenery you will be using. If you are using a greenery spray, separate the branches so that the leaves radiate outwards, creating a natural and realistic effect. Straighten the stems of your flowers if they are bent or crooked.

Now, it's time to choose a focal flower. Select a flower that you want to be the centrepiece of your bouquet. This could be a flower that stands out with a unique colour or shape. Hold this flower near the blossom end, and you can begin adding other flowers around it.

As you add more flowers, rotate the bouquet a quarter turn to the right each time. This will help you position the flowers diagonally and create a well-filled, rounded bouquet. Add larger flowers towards the centre and smaller accent flowers around the edges to create depth and draw the eye to certain sections.

Finally, add some filler flowers to give your bouquet a natural look. These are usually smaller, green flowers that can be inserted between the other flowers. Make sure to insert these filler flowers at the same angle to maintain symmetry.

Inserting flowers into your greenery

Now for the fun part—designing your bouquet! Take flowers one by one and insert them into the greenery spray. Insert your flowers in a circular direction to create a globe-like shape. Try to insert larger flowers towards the centre of your bouquet with smaller accent flowers around the edges. This will help draw the eye towards certain sections of your bouquet.

If you are using a combination of Ling's flowers and greenery sprays, you have total freedom to customise your bouquet in harmony with your wedding theme and personal aesthetic.

If you don't like the way you placed a certain flower, you can always remove it and try it in a different spot. This is your chance to experiment! Keep going until you've added all your flowers to the bouquet.

One top tip is to ensure that you put all of the filler flowers in at the same angle to ensure that your bouquet stays symmetrical and isn't all over the place!

Adding depth and dimension

You can also experiment with placing the ornamental pieces from your floral box set near your focal flowers. This will help to create a sense of depth and draw the eye to different sections of the bouquet. Play around with the placement of these pieces until you find an arrangement that you're happy with.

Remember, it's okay to make changes and adjustments as you go. Floral design is a creative process, and it's normal to experiment until you find the perfect arrangement. Enjoy the process of crafting your bouquet and don't be afraid to get creative!

Additionally, consider the overall shape and framework of your bouquet. Stand in front of a mirror while assembling it, so you can see exactly what it looks like from the front. This will help you adjust and perfect the depth and dimension of your bouquet.

Tying and trimming the stems

• Tie a piece of wire around the stems: Secure all the stems together with a piece of wire. This will help hold them in place while you trim and adjust the length.
• Trim the stems to a uniform length: Use wire cutters or sharp floral snips to cut the stems, making sure they are all the same length. Consider the length of the shortest stem as a guideline and ensure that the final length is comfortable to hold during your wedding.
• Protect exposed wires with floral tubing: After trimming, some wires may be exposed. Cover these with floral tubing to create a neat and safe finish. Insert 2-3 stems at a time into the tubing, stopping about 3/4 of the way up. This will leave some space for the floral tape to secure the base.
• Secure the stems with floral tape: Wrap the lower part of the stems, from the end of the floral tubing to the base of the bouquet, with green floral tape. This will help hold the bouquet together and protect your hands.
• Create a handle with ribbon: Choose a satin ribbon in your desired colour and glue it around the base of the bouquet. This adds a polished look and makes it easier to hold.
• Tie a ribbon around the bouquet: Take two ribbons and tie them in a bow near the handle. Leave some excess ribbon for a flowing, elegant effect. You can experiment with different colours and accents or add more loops to create a unique look.

Remember, this is your chance to get creative and make your bouquet truly yours. Enjoy the process of crafting something special for your wedding day!

Frequently asked questions